We’re Big in Japan, Part 2
A while back we wrote about our strange appearance on Japanese Blog Nice Meets (this was back in our Sparkker days). Well it turns out that group dating is kind of a big deal over in Japan and was even before they got wind of Ignighter. They’ve yet to find a suitable web application for facilitating this cultural phenomenon though, so hopefully Ignighter can fill the void. The following is a description of what the Japanese call “Gokon” or “Compa” (Compa comes from the English word, “companion”).
Basically a man and woman plan what usually starts as a dinner and each invite 3 or 4 of their friends. This is the groundwork for the group date and doesn’t sound too dissimilar from Ignighter.
However there are many rules inherent to the Compa which of course do not exist in the free-spirited world of Ignighter:
1. The guys must arrive early and the ladies are expected to arrive late.
2. Daters aren’t allowed to sit next to their friends so they alternate boy, girl, boy, girl.
3. A toast, or Kanpai, is made and they all say “L’Chaim”.
4. They go around the table and introduce themselves, talking about their jobs, hobbies, and favorite house-mates on Oxygen Network’s Bad Girls Club.
5. They start drinking. A lot. Yumm….. Sake Bombs….
Because of the rigid social mores existing in Japan, alcohol plays a very important role in loosening up the Compadres (please note: I don’t think they really call themselves this). Compadres have even been known to exaggerate how drunk they really are (speaking of acting drunk, this Kid Nation clip is a must watch!) just for an excuse to act slightly more uninhibited.
For a firsthand account of a Compa, check out this blog:
Adam
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